Orin Nano Dev-Kit with JetPack 6.0 PR Not Detecting CSI Camera

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing issues with the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit, specifically with the detection of CSI cameras when using JetPack 6.0 PR. The primary symptoms include:

• Camera Detection Failure: Both the Raspberry Pi V2 camera and IMX219-160 camera connected to the CAM0 CSI port are not detected.
• Command Errors: Attempts to use commands like v4l2-ctl result in "command not found," and nvgstcapture-1.0 outputs errors indicating that no cameras are available.
• Boot Issues: After enabling the camera using the jetson-io.py script, some users report that their devices fail to boot beyond the NVIDIA splash screen, leading to a blinking cursor instead of loading the Ubuntu desktop.
• Frequency: This issue appears to be consistent among multiple users, particularly after attempting camera configuration changes.
• Impact: The inability to detect cameras significantly hampers development projects relying on camera functionality, affecting user experience and project timelines.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes have been identified for these issues:

• Hardware Incompatibilities: The specific CSI cameras used may not be fully compatible with the Orin Nano or JetPack version.
• Software Bugs: There may be unresolved bugs in JetPack 6.0 PR affecting camera detection and initialization.
• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in the extlinux.conf file or improper use of the jetson-io.py script could lead to boot failures or detection issues.
• Driver Issues: Missing or improperly loaded drivers for the CSI cameras may prevent detection.
• Environmental Factors: Power supply issues or overheating could potentially affect device performance and stability.
• User Errors: Misconfiguration during setup or incorrect commands may lead to the observed problems.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address these issues, users can follow these troubleshooting steps and solutions:

1. Verify Camera Connection:

   • Ensure that the camera is properly connected to the CAM0 CSI port.

2. Check Installed Packages:

   • Confirm that necessary packages are installed:

     sudo apt-get install v4l-utils
     

3. Enable Camera Using jetson-io:

   • Run the following command to enable the camera:

     sudo /opt/nvidia/jetson-io/jetson-io.py
     

   • Follow prompts to configure the camera settings.

4. Check Kernel Logs for Driver Loading:

   • Use this command to check if the driver is loading correctly:

     sudo dmesg | grep -i imx219
     

5. Modify extlinux.conf File:

   • If boot issues arise after enabling the camera, edit /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf to remove any problematic boot options created by jetson-io.py.
   • Backup the original file before making changes:

     sudo cp /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf.backup
     

   • Edit the file using a text editor (e.g., nano):

     sudo nano /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf
     

   • Remove any lines related to custom configurations for CSI cameras.

6. Reboot and Test Camera Functionality:

   • After making changes, reboot the system and test camera detection again using:

     v4l2-ctl --list-devices
     nvgstcapture-1.0
     

7. Use Serial Console for Recovery:

   • If booting fails, access recovery options via serial console by pressing ESC during boot and selecting appropriate recovery options.

8. Reflash JetPack if Necessary:

   • As a last resort, consider reflashing JetPack using SDK Manager if persistent issues remain after troubleshooting.

9. Documentation and Updates:

   • Regularly check for updates on NVIDIA’s official forums for any patches or updates related to JetPack 6.0 PR.

10. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

    • Always backup configurations before making changes.
    • Test new hardware with minimal configurations before integrating into larger projects.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to CSI camera detection on their Orin Nano Developer Kits running JetPack 6.0 PR.